Under the Tuscan Sun

Yes, most of the day was spent 'under the Tuscan sun'. We left the ship and the wind was cold and of course I loved it, but it appeared to be a cold, cloudy day. The tour guide assured us that indeed the Tuscan sun would appear and the day would be beautiful, and she was right, the day was beautiful and very pleasant, none of the sweltering heat you hear about here in the summer!

I took the tour into Florence and was in for quite a treat. Riding along I decided the name for today's blog and only a short time later our tour guide told us that we were going to be about an hour's drive from Cardona, the setting for the movie, "Under the Tuscan Sun" and "Life is Beautiful", the latter of which I haven't seen yet, but will when I return home. Today I did something different, I tried to take notes because there are so many interesting facts that I forget from each trip. My idea to write the interesting things on the back of a post card is a good one, but one which I never get around to, so today I boarded the bus with note paper from the ship and have some interesting bits of history to go along with the day. My spelling may be incorrect, so keep that in consideration and don't hold it against me! I am trying to do my best in foreign languages. Today I became an expert at bonjourno and grazie, such an international girl now!

We took a drive through the Tuscan countryside, one of 18 areas in Italy, and the rolling hills covered in cyprus trees, olive trees, and grape vines looked exactly like the pictures!! With beautiful old buildings on the hilltops. It all seemed like I was driving through a movie set! We stopped along the way at a leather shop, where we were told that the prices were quite reasonable and that it was the same leather that Prada, etc. put their names on. Yes, I bet they do and I did resist the little lavender purse that cost 200E, which would be $300! Beautiful and the leather was so soft, but alas, I didn't need a $300 purse...in purple!! So I settled on a very inexpensive lavender coin purse. When I asked for one of the nice bags, the man behind the counter had quite a lot to say to the saleslady and I told him that I assumed he was saying I didn't spend enough to get a nice bag, but since I was a teacher, relatively speaking, I did! He smiled that I had figured out his Italian speech and said not to tell anyone my secret. My goodness, a bag, yes just a paper bag, is a secret!! Whew, I'm in Italy I guess! I think I may have spent enough to cover the little bag actually! And people wonder why I save bags, now I know, they are more valuable than I ever knew!

After the leather shop stop, we went to a beautiful overlook to see the city of Florence where we were headed. Absolutely thrilling, to look out over the roofs of the city, the city that is so important in history. Did you know that America is named after one of it's ancient citizens, Americo Vespuchi? He was a member of the ruling Medici family and went to map the new world with Columbo. (One time I asked César why Columbus was called that in America if his name was really Columbo, and in his special way of seeing things, he responded with, "How would I know, you are the American!") I never did find out the answer to that! Florence is the city where the author of Pinocchio lives and we passed the church where he was buried. I'd hoped to find a small Pinocchio to bring home, but I didn't. DaVinci painted the Mona Lisa here, in Florence, and it was one of his favorite paintings so he took it everywhere with him. He traveled to many places and spent his last years in France, where he died, and that is the reason that the famous painting is hanging in the Louvre! Quite interesting I thought, along with the fact that the guide told us that the background of the painting is of the Tuscan hillsides, I can't wait to find the picture and check that out!

So down from the hills we traveled and were dropped off outside of the main part of the city and walked the few blocks to get to the town. Unfortunately we didn't have time to see everything, so I had to decide whether to head to the Pont Vecchio bridge, the only remaining original bridge, or to the center where the duomo and the statue of David was. Well, you know me, and seeing David, the 17 ft. high statue, had my interest! So I missed the photo opportunities at the bridge, although it is said that if you don't have any friends you can stand under the arch for 30 minutes and you will have a new friend...although it was also explained to us that ladies would stand there and the men sailing by would often appear on the bridge to be their 'friends'. Maybe I should have chosen that direction after all! Next time... I went into the square and took many pictures of the replica of David that is now the only one in the square, the real one was inside with a wait so I settled for that one. Many statues fill the square, some more impressive than David we were told. I wandered up and down the quaint cobblestone streets and enjoyed the different feel of the town, different from other places I've been. I stopped for a gelato and loved the way it was displayed in the shops! Wait until you see the pictures. It was good, but I didn't pick a good place I think and I enjoyed it, but hope to try more before leaving Italy. I had a little time and stopped into a little cafe in the square and wanted to look at Italian spaghetti. Looking was not enough and before I knew it I was eating a bowl of spaghetti and pesto linguini. I have to say America does not know how to make spaghetti! The flavor was so incredible, soft and a slight flavor of cheese, that I wished I could bring home lots!! The pesto linguini was also a soft flavor, but delightful and this not hungry person ate every piece of pasta! Delicious and I will be sampling this any chance I get! We boarded the bus for the 1 1/2 hr ride back to the ship. I was glad that I wasn't leaving on the next tour immediately when we returned, the trip to Pisa, maybe that will be for next time too!! I did see Pisa on my last trip here from the highway so I feel that I've seen it and there is so much more to do in this area!

I returned and enjoyed a nice long nap and am on my way to dinner now. Tonight the show is "Revolution" a tribute to the Beatles. I can guarantee you that everyone here remembers the Beatles! Right now they are making announcements for the crew members that are not back on the ship for our sailing. This is a big deal and on 3 of my other cruises I knew Louise, the person in charge of the crew, who made these announcements for the crew members who have not returned. I'd love to hear her voice now, she is from Scotland, but she is currently working on the ship that is going to Hawaii. I know none of the people on this ship and I'm sad and a little bit lonely. I'd become used to seeing someone I knew or at least someone César or Hernan knew to chat with. César does think one of his friends from the South Pacific is in the shops so I will look to see if she is here sometime. For now, I will meet new people. As I write this blog I am near the center of the ship listening to the beautiful piano music. When I read these entries I will remember the music which is so beautiful, on that white grand piano, that it can bring tears to your eyes. I'd even had a little hope that my drunk piano player from another cruise might be on this ship for entertainment, but he is not.

Good night and until tomorrow, smile and plan a future of travel!

Postscript - I just finished dinner at the any time seating, meaning you are always at a table with new people. Tonight was delightful, among the 8 people there were two ladies from England who are retired 'head teachers' and when I inquired as to the meaning of that, I was told it was the equivalent of our principal. Interesting to talk to them and compare retirements. At 39 years they receive only 1/3 of their salary for the rest of their lives. At 40 years they receive 1/2 of their salary! In Colorado we are much luckier! And one of the ladies has been to a garden party hosted by the queen twice, what an interesting event that sounded like! Both ladies have worked with the Girl Guides, the original organization that became Girl Scouts in America, but only one has been invited to this event. The invitation comes from the Lord Chamberlain and a follow up call is made to assure the invitation was received. They must wear a large garden party hat and tiny sandwiches and tiny cups of tea are served and they have to stand around holding them, there is no where to sit! They do receive a list of how to act too!! One of the ladies took time off of work to go to the castle to see her friend go into Buckingham Palace for the party. Such a cute story, I wanted to share it! Imagine, I just had dinner with a lady who has been in the presence of the queen! Such interesting people to meet!!